OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - The top teams in the Sooner Athletic Conference have been gunning for No. 2 Mid-America Christian (25-1, 15-1 SAC) down the stretch. Wayland Baptist lost by two Feb. 8, and SAGU fell by one Feb. 13. Add No. 20 Texas Wesleyan Men's Basketball (18-7, 11-5 SAC) to that list, who came within five points of dethroning the Evangels from the top of the conference Saturday in a 94-89 road loss. 

89 points are the second-most points the Evangels have given up to any opponent this season. 54 of them came in the second half as the Rams worked to repair a 49-35 halftime deficit. TXWES owned the paint (44-28), were ready off hr bench (41-31) and crashed the boards for second chance points (14-4) but nothing could counterbalance MACU's blood-thirsty counter attack. Off 17 turnovers, Mid-America Christian scored 32 points, nearly turning every giveaway and takeaway into a basket on the other end.

Texas Wesleyan got within two - 86-84 - on Marshall Calvin's bucket with 1:14 to play but he missed on an and-1 opportunity and 33 seconds later, the Evangels hit from downtown, forcing the Rams to play the foul game, which MACU won by hitting 5-of-6 free throws in the final 19 seconds.

The respectful rivalry between the conference's last two champions continues to be a must-see, with eight of the last nine decided by 11 points or less, dating all the way back to the 2016-17 campaign when the Rams won their last NAIA Championship.

Sam Lorenzen finished with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting, 5-of-10 from deep. Peyton Sallee notched 18 points on four treys with six rebounds, four steals and three assists. The team nailed 11-of-24 threes in total, the fourth time this season TXWES has had back-to-back games with at least 10 three-pointers going through the net.

Akeem White contributed 17 points and nine boards in 28 minutes, continuing his case for a deserved sixth-man-of-the-year honor in the SAC. Joe Cook-Green chipped in 14 points, three rebounds and three assists. Much of the game had to be played without starting point guard Davon Berry, who fouled out in just 19 minutes of work.

The Rams have won two in a row, then dropped a chance to win three straight three times in a row, dating back to January 18. A road test at Central Christian Thursday will launch the squad back in action. All seven losses by Texas Wesleyan this season have been by 11 points or less.